Packaging assembly for compact discs

Abstract

A packaging assembly for both packaging and displaying a plurality of compact discs. The packaging assembly includes a support structure having tiered depressions formed into at least one row. Each depression in a row is sized to accept a compact disc and includes a retaining mechanism for selectively engaging a compact disc at each tier level. As a result, the support structure is capable of retaining multiple compact discs in each row, wherein each compact disc is retained at a different tier level. This enables the various compact discs to overlay over another without contacting one another. The tiered orientation also enables any one of the compact discs to be accessed without having to remove any other compact disc contained in the packaging assembly. The support structure itself is contained within a box, wherein the box has a forward surface that defines a large window. When the support structure is contained within the box, each compact disc retained on the support structure is visible through the box window. Accordingly, the number of compact discs contained within the packaging assembly is instantly discernable as is the identifying graphics and/or indicia printed on each of the compact discs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A packaging assembly for packaging a plurality of compact discs, comprising: a box having a front surface, wherein said front surface defines a window through which an interior region of said box can be viewed;   an insert member removably positionable in said box, said insert member having a top surface with a plurality of disc accommodating areas;   retaining means associated with each of said disc accommodating areas for retaining one of said plurality of compact discs at each of said disc accommodating areas, whereby each of said plurality of compact discs is visible through said window of said box and partially overlaps an adjacent one.   
     
     
       2. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein said retaining means retains said plurality of compact discs in at least one row. 
     
     
       3. The packaging assembly according to claim 2, wherein said insert member is tiered so that said disc accommodating areas are at multiple levels, and said retaining means are disposed at each of said multiple levels, whereby said retaining means retains at least one of said plurality of compact discs at each of said multiple levels. 
     
     
       4. The packaging assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said retaining means retains each of said plurality of compact discs at an isolated position, whereby said plurality of compact discs do not contact each other. 
     
     
       5. A packaging assembly for packaging a plurality of compact discs, comprising: a box having a front surface, wherein said front surface defines a window through which an interior region of said box can be viewed;   an insert member removably positionable in said box;   retaining means disposed on said insert member for retaining said plurality of compact discs in an orientation wherein each of said plurality of compact discs is visible through said window of said box, wherein said retaining means retains said plurality of compact discs in at least one row, wherein each of said plurality of compact discs in said at least one row appear to partially overlap an adjacent compact disc in said at least one row when viewed through said window of said box, wherein each of said plurality of compact discs have a central aperture and said retaining means includes protrusions disposed on said insert member that are shaped to selectively engage said central aperture, thereby engaging said plurality of compact discs and selectively joining said plurality of compact discs to said insert member.   
     
     
       6. The packaging assembly according to claim 5, wherein each of said protrusions are visible through said window of said box. 
     
     
       7. A device for retaining a plurality of compact discs of the type having a peripheral edge, a blank center region and a useable region disposed between the peripheral edge and the blank center region on a first side, said device comprising: a support structure having a top surface;   a plurality of depressions disposed in said top surface, wherein each of said plurality of depressions is sized to accept a compact disc therein; and   retaining means disposed in each of said plurality of depressions for selectively retaining said plurality of compact discs in said plurality of depressions, whereby each of said plurality of compact discs overlaps an adjacent one.   
     
     
       8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said depressions are aligned in at least one row and each of said depressions in a row is set at a different depth from said top surface. 
     
     
       9. The device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said plurality of compact discs retained in each said row overlaps another of said plurality of compact discs retained in said row. 
     
     
       10. The device according to claim 9, wherein a majority of the useable region of each of said plurality of compact discs is viewable from said top surface of said support structure. 
     
     
       11. The device according to claim 9, wherein said retaining means retains each of said plurality of compact discs in an isolated position, whereby the compact discs in said at least one row do not contact each other. 
     
     
       12. The device according to claim 8, wherein said retaining means includes protrusions disposed on said support structure in said depressions that are shaped to selectively engage the blank center region of each said plurality of compact discs, thereby selectively joining said plurality of compact discs to said support structure. 
     
     
       13. The device according to claim 7, further including a box, positionable around said support structure, said box defining a window through which all of said plurality of said compact discs can be viewed. 
     
     
       14. A packaging assembly for compact discs, comprising: a tiered support structure having a plurality of tiers set a different depth from a top surface of said support structure;   means disposed on each of said tiers for retaining a compact disc, wherein said compact discs are retained in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to said top surface; and   a box positionable around said tiered support structure, said box defining a window though which each said compact disc on said tiered support can be viewed.   
     
     
       15. The packaging assembly according to claim 14, wherein compact discs on adjacent tiers overlap on another. 
     
     
       16. The packaging assembly according to claim 15, wherein compact discs are physically isolated from one another. 
     
     
       17. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, wherein said compact discs are retained in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to said top surface. 
     
     
       18. The packaging assembly according to claim 1, which further includes supporting means associated with each of said disc accommodating areas for supporting one of said plurality of compact discs at each of said disc accommodating areas. 
     
     
       19. The device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of compact discs are retained in said plurality of depressions in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to said top surface.